Moving video tags

ABSTRACT

A method causes a display device to display (1) a video scene including first and second items undergoing motion, (2) first and second tags in respective first and second positions, and (3) respective first and second visually perceptible indicators extending between the items in the respective tag positions. Each visually perceptible indicator adjusts as one or both of the item and the tag position changes during the video scene so as to maintain proximity to each of the item and the tag position. The tags include text information describing the items in the video scene.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. Pat. Application No.17/229,240 filed on Apr. 13, 2021, entitled “MOVING VIDEO TAGS,” whichis a continuation of U.S. Pat. Application No. 16/799,575 filed on Feb.24, 2020, entitled “MOVING VIDEO TAGS,” now U.S. Pat. No. 10,979,760,which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. Application 16/253,597 filed onJan. 22, 2019, entitled “MOVING VIDEO TAGS,” now U.S. Pat. No.10,575,044, which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. Application No.15/907,095, filed on Feb. 27, 2018, entitled “MOVING VIDEO TAGS,” nowU.S. Pat. No. 10,187,688, which is a continuation of U.S. Pat.Application No. 15/269,701, flied on Sep. 19, 2016, entitled “MOVINGVIDEO TAGS,” now U.S. Pat. No. 9,906,829, which is a continuation ofU.S. Pat. Application No. 12/172,185, filed on Jul. 11, 2008, entitled“MOVING VIDEO TAGS OUTSIDE OF A VIDEO AREA TO CREATE A MENU SYSTEM,” nowU.S. Pat. No. 9,451,195, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Pat.Application No. 60/949,505, filed on Jul. 12, 2007, entitled “VIDEO TAGSOUTSIDE OF VIDEO AREA.” The entire disclosures of all of the foregoingpatent applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

This application is related to U.S. Pat. Application No. 11/499,315,filed on Aug. 4, 2006, entitled “DISPLAYING TAGS ASSOCIATED WITH ITEMSIN A VIDEO PLAYBACK,” now U.S. Pat. No. 10,003,781, the entiredisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

This application is also related to U.S. Pat. Application No. 11/669,901filed on Jan. 31, 2007 entitled “AUTHORING TOOL FOR PROVIDING TAGSASSOCIATED WITH ITEMS IN A VIDEO PLAYBACK,” now U.S. Pat. No. 8,656,282,issued on Feb. 18, 2014, the entire disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference herein

SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Tags in a video area are established by displaying the tags with avisual association to an item in the video. Thereafter, the tags move toa tag menu area that is outside of the video area. Tags are selectable,such as by clicking on the tag, to cause additional actions such asdisplaying a web page related to the tag. Tags move and disappear/appearin conjunction with the video as the video action progresses. In oneembodiment, the tag menu area is obtained when a video with a firstaspect ratio is displayed in a display area that has a different aspectratio. The difference in aspect ratios leaves a portion in the displayarea that is not used for the video that can be used for the tag menuarea.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a first illustration of a prior art approach to displayingvideo.

FIG. 2 is a second illustration of a prior art approach to displayingvideo.

FIG. 3 is a third illustration of a prior art approach to displayingvideo.

FIG. 4 is a fourth illustration of a prior art approach to displayingvideo.

FIG. 5 shows high definition format video displayed within a standarddefinition area.

FIG. 6 shows a standard definition format video displayed within ahigh-definition format video.

FIG. 7 shows a prior art approach where standard definition video isshown in a standard definition display area.

FIG. 8 shows high-definition video in a standard-definition area.

FIG. 9 illustrates video including a tag.

FIG. 10 shows a video after tag movement.

FIG. 11 shows a video after additional tag movement.

FIG. 12 shows tags reaching their final positions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate prior art approaches to placing a video of a firstaspect ratio into a display area of a second aspect ratio. In FIG. 1 ,video area 100 is a 4:3 aspect ratio such as is commonly used instandard definition (SD) video playback. The ratio 4:3 corresponds tothe width divided by the height of the video area. FIG. 2 shows videoarea 110 which is representative of a 16:9 aspect ratio that is commonlyused in high-definition (HD) video formats. Typically, the SD and HDformats are best displayed in a display area that matches the nativedimensions of the video aspect ratio. In such cases the full displayarea (e.g., a television or display screen, predetermined area such ason a web page or computer program, etc.) is filled completely with thevideo area.

However, in many cases it is undesirable or impossible to change thevideo display area to exactly match the video aspect ratio. For example,a user may have an SD television and may wish to view an HD program. Insuch a case, FIG. 3 illustrates a “letterbox” type of solution to theproblem. In FIG. 3 , an HD display area 120 accommodates HD videoprogram 130 by scaling and vertically centering the HD video area sothat it is centered within the SD screen area. This leaves blank orunused areas 102 and 104 at the top and bottom, respectively, of displayarea 120. These blank areas are typically black or grey and are not usedto display video or any other information.

Similarly, FIG. 4 illustrates an example where SD video program 150 isdisplayed within HD display area 140. This leaves blank “pillars” 106and 108 on the left and right sides, respectively, of the display area.

FIG. 5 shows an approach according to an embodiment of the presentinvention where HD format video program 132 is displayed within SDdisplay area 122 so that a lower blank area 105 is maximized. This blankarea is advantageously used for display of enhanced or auxiliaryinformation associated with the video program. For example, tags can bedisplayed in the video and in the blank area as described, below.Similarly, FIG. 6 shows an SD format video 152 displayed within HD area142 so that a blank area 109 is maximized to the right of the video.This blank area can similarly be used for additional information relatedto the video or for other purposes. Naturally, the blank areas can bepositioned at the top and/or left sides of FIGS. 5 and 6 , respectively.The display area can be on a physical display screen, on a portion of acomputer display or web page, or the display area can be defined byother means.

FIGS. 7-12 illustrate an HD format video displayed within an SD displayarea on a web page. FIG. 7 shows a prior art approach where SD video 208is shown in SD display area 210 of web page 206. The web page providesvideo transport controls at 220 for performing standard control over thevideo playback such as start, stop, pause, skip to start, move toposition, and volume control. Although specific controls are shown, ingeneral any type and design of video playback controls can be provided.

FIG. 8 shows HD format video 212 fit into the upper portion of the SDspace on the same web page. This creates blank space 224 which will beused for tag menu items as described below. Transport controls 222 areoverlayed onto the video area. However, other embodiments need notoverlay the transport controls but may place them in any desirableposition, such as in the position of FIG. 7 , to the top, left or rightsides, not display them at all, etc.

FIG. 9 illustrates video area 212 after the video has started playingback. A video bubble or tag 226 is shown that provides information aboutthe model in the scene. Although specific video subject matter and tagtext is shown it should be apparent that the video contents and tagtext, design and other tag characteristics can be changed, as desired.As the video plays, the tag moves in the direction A to A′ to reside intag menu area 224.

FIG. 10 shows the video display a few seconds later when tag 226 hasmoved into the tag menu area 224. Additional tags 228 and 230 haveappeared in video area 212 to describe garments that the model iswearing. Visual pointers from tags 228 and 230 serve to associate eachtag with its respective garment item. Tag 226 will next move along thedirection B to B′ while tags 228 and 230 will each move to the tag menuarea.

FIG. 11 shows tag 226 positioned at the left side of tag menu area 224while tags 228 and 230 have moved to the tag menu area (and are still inmotion moving sideways to create more separation between them). FIG. 12illustrates a point in time where the tags have reached their finalpositions and additional information, such as price information andwebsite address information is also displayed into the tag menu area. Anew tag 240 has appeared to provide more information about the model. Inthis manner, any number and type of tag can be presented in associationwith an item in the video (or in the abstract) and can then be moved tothe tag menu area. Each tag can be “clickable” so that, upon selectionby a user, additional information related to the tag, such as a webpage, is displayed. Other functionality may be provided to the tags -such as allowing a tag to expand to provide additional information,opening an adjacent window or frame next to the video playback toprovide additional information or functionality, etc. Although specificcontent has been used in this example, it should be apparent that anyother content can be used for the video and/or the tags.

Many other types of hardware and software platforms can be used toimplement the functionality described herein. For example, a videoplayer can be included in a portable device such as a laptop, PDA, cellphone, game console, e-mail device, etc. The tag data can reside on astorage device, server, or other device that is accessed over anothernetwork. In general, the functions described can be performed by any oneor more devices, processes, subsystems, or components, at the same ordifferent times, executing at one or more locations.

Accordingly, particular embodiments can provide for computer playback ofvideo that supports automatically capturing of screen snapshots, in theaccommodation of tag information outside of a video play area. Further,while particular examples have been described herein, other structures,arrangements, and/or approaches can be utilized in particularembodiments.

Any suitable programming language can be used to implement features ofthe present invention including, e.g., C, C++, Java, PUI, assemblylanguage, etc. Different programming techniques can be employed such asprocedural or object oriented. The routines can execute on a singleprocessing device or multiple processors. The order of operationsdescribed herein can be changed. Multiple steps can be performed at thesame time. The flowchart sequence can be interrupted. The routines canoperate in an operating system environment or as stand-alone routinesoccupying all, or a substantial part, of the system processing.

Steps can be performed by hardware or software, as desired. Note thatsteps can be added to, taken from or modified from the steps in theflowcharts presented in this specification without deviating from thescope of the invention. In general, the flowcharts are only used toindicate one possible sequence of basic operations to achieve afunction.

In the description herein, numerous specific details are provided, suchas examples of components and/or methods, to provide a thoroughunderstanding of embodiments of the present invention. One skilled inthe relevant art will recognize, however, that an embodiment of theinvention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details,or with other apparatus, systems, assemblies, methods, components,materials, parts, and/or the like. In other instances, well-knownstructures, materials, or operations are not specifically shown ordescribed in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of embodiments of thepresent invention.

As used herein the various databases, application software or networktools may reside in one or more server computers and more particularly,in the memory of such server computers. As used herein, “memory” forpurposes of embodiments of the present invention may be any medium thatcan contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program foruse by or in connection with the instruction execution system,apparatus, system or device. The memory can be, by way of example onlybut not by limitation, an electronic, magnetic, optical,electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, system,device, propagation medium, or computer memory.

A “processor” or “process” includes any human, hardware and/or softwaresystem, mechanism or component that processes data, signals or otherinformation. A processor can include a system with a general-purposecentral processing unit, multiple processing units, dedicated circuitryfor achieving functionality, or other systems. Processing need not belimited to a geographic location, or have temporal limitations. Forexample, a processor can perform its functions in “real time,”“offline,” in a “batch mode,” etc. Portions of processing can beperformed at different times and at different locations, by different(or the same) processing systems.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” “a particular embodiment,” or “a specific embodiment” meansthat a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described inconnection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment ofthe present invention and not necessarily in all embodiments. Thus,respective appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in anembodiment,” “in a particular embodiment,” or “in a specific embodiment”in various places throughout this specification are not necessarilyreferring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features,structures, or characteristics of any specific embodiment of the presentinvention may be combined in any suitable manner with one or more otherembodiments. It is to be understood that other variations andmodifications of the embodiments of the present invention described andillustrated herein are possible in light of the teachings herein and areto be considered as part of the spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

Embodiments of the invention may be implemented by using a programmedgeneral purpose digital computer, by using application specificintegrated circuits, programmable logic devices, field programmable gatearrays, optical, chemical, biological, quantum or nanoengineeredsystems, components and mechanisms may be used. In general, thefunctions of the present invention can be achieved by any means as isknown in the art. Further, distributed, or networked systems, componentsand circuits can be used. Communication, or transfer, of data may bewired, wireless, or by any other means.

It will also be appreciated that one or more of the elements depicted inthe drawings/figures can also be implemented in a more separated orintegrated manner, or even removed or rendered as inoperable in certaincases, as is useful in accordance with a particular application. It isalso within the spirit and scope of the present invention to implement aprogram or code that can be stored in a machine readable medium topermit a computer to perform any of the methods described above.

Additionally, any signal arrows in the drawings/Figures should beconsidered only as exemplary, and not limiting, unless otherwisespecifically noted. Furthermore, the term “or” as used herein isgenerally intended to mean “and/or” unless otherwise indicated.Combinations of components or steps will also be considered as beingnoted, where terminology is foreseen as rendering the ability toseparate or combine is unclear.

As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow,“a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural references unless the contextclearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein andthroughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and“on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

The foregoing description of illustrated embodiments of the presentinvention, including what is described in the Abstract, is not intendedto be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formsdisclosed herein. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, theinvention are described herein for illustrative purposes only, variousequivalent modifications are possible within the spirit and scope of thepresent invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognizeand appreciate. As indicated, these modifications may be made to thepresent invention in light of the foregoing description of illustratedembodiments of the present invention and are to be included within thespirit and scope of the present invention.

Thus, while the present invention has been described herein withreference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification,various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoingdisclosures, and it will be appreciated that in some instances somefeatures of embodiments of the invention will be employed without acorresponding use of other features without departing from the scope andspirit of the invention as set forth. Therefore, many modifications maybe made to adapt a particular situation or material to the essentialscope and spirit of the present invention. It is intended that theinvention not be limited to the particular terms used in followingclaims and/or to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best modecontemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the inventionwill include any and all embodiments and equivalents falling within thescope of the appended claims.

1. A method comprising: causing a display device to display a videoscene, the video scene including a first item undergoing motion duringthe video scene and a second item undergoing motion during the videoscene, the first item and the second item being distinct from eachother; causing the display device to display, simultaneously with thevideo scene, a first tag in a first position in the video scene, thefirst tag being associated the first item but distinct and separatedaway from the first item in the video scene, wherein the first tagincludes text information describing the first item in the video scene;causing the display device to display, simultaneously with the videoscene and the first tag, a second tag in a second position in the videoscene, the second tag being associated the second item but distinct andseparated away from the second item in the video, wherein the second tagincludes text information describing the second item in the video scene,the second position being distinct from and non-overlapping with thefirst position; causing the display device to display a first visuallyperceptible indicator extending between a proximity of the first item inthe video scene and a proximity of the first position, wherein the firstvisually perceptible indicator adjusts as one or both of the first itemand the first position changes during the video scene so as to maintainproximity to each of the first item and the first position on respectiveends of the first visually perceptible indicator; and causing thedisplay device to display a second visually perceptible indicatorextending between a proximity of the second item in the video scene anda proximity of the second position, wherein the second visuallyperceptible indicator adjusts as one or both of the second item and thesecond position changes during the video scene so as to maintainproximity to each of the second item and the second position onrespective ends of the second visually perceptible indicator.
 2. Amethod according to claim 1, wherein the first visually perceptibleindicator is a line.
 3. A method according to claim 1, wherein thesecond visually perceptible indicator is a line.
 4. A method accordingto claim 1, wherein the first position is static during the video scene.5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the second position is staticduring the video scene.
 6. A method according to claim 1, wherein thefirst tag is surrounded by a visually perceptible border defining afirst tag area.
 7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the second tagis surrounded by a visually perceptible border defining a second tagarea.
 8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising: receivingfrom an input device a selection of the first tag; and in response toreceiving from the input device the selection of the first tag,performing a first predetermined action to provide additionalinformation relating to the first item in the video scene.
 9. A methodaccording to claim 8, wherein the step of performing the firstpredetermined action to provide the additional information relating tothe first item in the video scene comprises causing the display deviceto expand the first tag area so that the additional information can bepresented within the tag area along with text information describing thefirst item in the video scene.
 10. A method according to claim 8,wherein the step of performing the first predetermined action to providethe additional information relating to the first item in the video scenecomprises causing the display device to present a web page including theadditional information relating to the first item.
 11. A methodaccording to claim 8, wherein the step of performing the firstpredetermined action to provide the additional information relating tothe first item in the video scene comprises causing the display deviceto display a new window and causing the display device to present in thenew window the additional information relating to the first item.
 12. Amethod according to claim 1, further comprising: receiving from an inputdevice a selection of the second tag; and in response to receiving fromthe input device the selection of the second tag, performing a secondpredetermined action to provide additional information relating to thesecond item in the video scene.
 13. A method according to claim 12,wherein the step of performing the second predetermined action toprovide the additional information relating to the second item in thevideo scene comprises causing the display device to expand the secondtag area so that the additional information can be presented within thetag area along with text information describing the second item in thevideo scene.
 14. A method according to claim 12, wherein the step ofperforming the second predetermined action to provide the additionalinformation relating to the second item in the video scene comprisescausing the display device to present a web page including theadditional information relating to the second item.
 15. A methodaccording to claim 12, wherein the step of performing the secondpredetermined action to provide the additional information relating tothe second item in the video scene comprises causing the display deviceto display a new window and causing the display device to present in thenew window the additional information relating to the second item.
 16. Amethod according to claim 1, wherein the text information in the firsttag is a brand name of or purchasing information for the first item, andthe text information in the second tag is a brand name of or purchasinginformation for the second item.
 17. A method according to claim 1,wherein the text information in the first tag is information other thana brand name of or purchasing information for the first item, and thetext information in the second tag is information other than a brandname of or purchasing information for the second item.
 18. A methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the first tag and the second tag belong toa tag category, and wherein the tag category is one of gadgets, scene,style, or design.
 19. An apparatus for use with a video display device,the apparatus comprising: a hardware processor; and a memory storinginstructions that configure the hardware processor to: cause the displaydevice to display a video scene, the video scene including a first itemundergoing motion during the video scene and a second item undergoingmotion during the video scene, the first item and the second item beingdistinct from each other; cause the display device to display,simultaneously with the video scene, a first tag in a first position inthe video scene, the first tag being associated the first item butdistinct and separated away from the first item in the video scene,wherein the first tag includes text information describing the firstitem in the video scene; cause the display device to display,simultaneously with the video scene and the first tag, a second tag in asecond position in the video scene, the second tag being associated thesecond item but distinct and separated away from the second item in thevideo, wherein the second tag includes text information describing thesecond item in the video scene, the second position being distinct fromand non-overlapping with the first position; cause the display device todisplay a first visually perceptible indicator extending between aproximity of the first item in the video scene and a proximity of thefirst position, wherein the first visually perceptible indicator adjustsas one or both of the first item and the first position changes duringthe video scene so as to maintain proximity to each of the first itemand the first position on respective ends of the first visuallyperceptible indicator; and cause the display device to display a secondvisually perceptible indicator extending between a proximity of thesecond item in the video scene and a proximity of the second position,wherein the second visually perceptible indicator adjusts as one or bothof the second item and the second position changes during the videoscene so as to maintain proximity to each of the second item and thesecond position on respective ends of the second visually perceptibleindicator.
 20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium havinginstructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising: instructionsto cause a display device to display a video scene, the video sceneincluding a first item undergoing motion during the video scene and asecond item undergoing motion during the video scene, the first item andthe second item being distinct from each other; instructions to causethe display device to display, simultaneously with the video scene, afirst tag in a first position in the video scene, the first tag beingassociated the first item but distinct and separated away from the firstitem in the video scene, wherein the first tag includes text informationdescribing the first item in the video scene; instructions to cause thedisplay device to display, simultaneously with the video scene and thefirst tag, a second tag in a second position in the video scene, thesecond tag being associated the second item but distinct and separatedaway from the second item in the video, wherein the second tag includestext information describing the second item in the video scene, thesecond position being distinct from and non-overlapping with the firstposition; instructions to cause the display device to display a firstvisually perceptible indicator extending between a proximity of thefirst item in the video scene and a proximity of the first position,wherein the first visually perceptible indicator adjusts as one or bothof the first item and the first position changes during the video sceneso as to maintain proximity to each of the first item and the firstposition on respective ends of the first visually perceptible indicator;and instructions to cause the display device to display a secondvisually perceptible indicator extending between a proximity of thesecond item in the video scene and a proximity of the second position,wherein the second visually perceptible indicator adjusts as one or bothof the second item and the second position changes during the videoscene so as to maintain proximity to each of the second item and thesecond position on respective ends of the second visually perceptibleindicator.